Week 2 Reflection

This week has been both stressful and enlightening for me.  The word research intimidates me and I have had a difficult time finding a topic to call my "Action Research Project".  I am very passionate about special education and wanted to choose a meaningful topic within its' realm. 

 I began this week with a topic in mind that I felt would have productive outcomes for my students.  After the the web conference, I realized the topic I had chosen was much too large and I need to focus on a smaller piece.  I spent time trying to find topics that I was interested in and had already been researched in the area of mainstream learning, but was unsuccessful.  I also met with my site supervisor and special education director to discuss topics.  During my first meeting with them, I still did not have a specific topic that I was passionate about.  I then went back to my original idea and began to look at ways I could break it down and target a specific need.  After a second meeting with the the two administrators I am working with, I decided I would focus on the success of Algebra I students and how pulling them out for content mastery assistance or small group instruction might increase their comprehension of the objectives and ultimately increase their test scores.  Our algebra students have struggled the past few years on the objectives and skills necessary for success on the EOC test.  I want to establish interventions for the special education mainstreamed students to gain confidence and skills to meet state passing requirements.  This study is important in ensuring that the needs of these students are being met properly and to make appropriate adjustments to increase the learners success.

I am both nervous and excited to get started.  Although, I am still a bit apprehensive about this project and know that I will be making changes to ensure I have chosen proper wording of what my intentions are,  I know that the knowledge I will gain will help my goal of this project.  I will find ways to help students become more successful in the mainstream classroom. 

 I am still unsure about how to locate literature and research that has already been completed in this area, so if you have suggestions, please let me know.   
  

How Educational Leaders Can Use Blogs

There are countless ways for educational leaders to use blogs as a communication tool.  My first suggestion would be as a way to communicate with the school faculty.  The principal could post a blog concerning issues that may normally be discussed in meetings.  The blog would provide all participants to have input by posting their comments.  Leaders could also use blogging as a tool in the action research process.  Leaders could gather information from the blog to diagnose needs.  The blog could be expanded to collaborate and formulate strategies for improving the needs.  Another effective way to incorporate blogs would be through the use of a reflective journal.  This would give all stakeholders the opportunity to follow issues as they mature and use the blog as a community forum.  The possibilities of blog use are endless and should be considered as a tool for the classroom teacher as well as school leaders.  

Action Research: What I Learned

I have heard the term “action research” before, but I now have a much clearer picture of how this process works.  Action research is an inquiry tool, used mainly in an educational setting, which systematically engages the participant in making strategic changes.  The inquiry takes place with a group of teachers and principals and focuses on a specific, rather than general, topic.  This type of action is more effective than traditional research because the participants identify their own problems and are asked to assess their own practices.  Then they formulate strategies to improve their practice and share these ideas with others.  This type of activity has the potential to create meaningful collaboration within the schools’ staff and learning communities.  It can also bring great improvements to the educational process.  I have always viewed research in the traditional since, not realizing how beneficial conducting inquiry based research about your own practices could be.  By investing in a personal concern, motivation will play a greater part in the effectiveness of the research and implementation of the improvements being made.  Action research can potentially play an important role in assisting educators and leaders in creating unique opportunities for student learning and school improvement.  These opportunities cannot be provided by traditional forms of research and resolution strategies.  

As a special education teacher and future leader in a district with Title 1 schools, there are many ways I could use action research for areas of needed improvement.  Some areas that interest me are student motivation, discipline, inclusion and co-teaching, effects of poverty and learning, and student underachievement.   I will use action research to model the role of a” life-long learner in an ever changing global society,” as stated in our mission statement.